An Overview Of Infections In The Ears Of Cats

Diseases of the ear are quite common in cats. The anatomy of the ears is a major contributing factor for ear infections. Cats have long ear canals that are shaped like an "L". This makes cleaning of the ears difficult and consequently results in ear disease. The ear canal being warm, dark and moist is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Allergies, ear mites and bacterial and yeast infections affect the outer ear. When the cat ear diseases affect the inner ear, they may cause deafness and loss of balance.

So how can you identify if your cat has an infection of the ear. Some of the symptoms are:

• Scratching or pawing at the ear
• Tilting the head to one side
• An unpleasant smell or a discharge from the ears
• An inflammation in the ear
• Signs of irritability or depression
• Pain in the ears

If the disease affects the middle or inner ear, other visible symptoms include facial paralysis, loss of balance and tilting the head downwards.

Causes And Treatment

There are a large number of causes for ear diseases. These causes and the treatment are as follows.

• Allergies:

Allergies to food or inhalant allergies may cause ear diseases. Allergy testing and immunotherapy are the ideal solution for such a disease. They are generally treated by cleaning the ears with an ear cleaning solution. Antihistamines and fatty acid supplements may also form a part of the treatment. At times, corticosteroids may be required.

• Ear mites:

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are a common reason for ear diseases. The presence of these mites may cause your pet to scratch vigorously at the ear to alleviate the itching sensation. This may cause damage to the ear. To treat this disease, the ears of your cat would have to be cleaned and ear medication will have to be applied. This treatment would have to be carried out for at least three weeks to ensure complete elimination of ear mites.

• Presence of bacteria and yeast:

Usually your cat's immune system is well equipped to fight bacteria and yeast. However certain conditions like allergies, hormonal irregularities or moisture may result in the ear canal becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. There would be a foul smell emanating from your pet's ears and a discharge would also be visible. For both bacterial and yeast infection, cleaning the ears is a must. For bacterial infections, the veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics. For ear disease due to yeast, special medication will be prescribed as antibiotics have no effect on yeast.

• Hormonal abnormalities:

Hormonal imbalance of hormones such as the thyroid hormone, glucocorticoids and sex hormones may also cause ear diseases. Hormonal replacement is used to treat ear diseases caused by any imbalance of hormones.

One of the major precautions to be taken to prevent the occurrence of ear infections is regular cleaning of the ears of your cat. Check her ears on a weekly basis. Remove the waxy substance and debris from her ears. If you detect any signs of ear infection, take her to the vet immediately.